1972-1994 General Social Survey Cumulative File
poleff1 PUBLIC HAS LITTLE CONTROL OVER POLITICNS
Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with
each of the following statements. A. The public has
little control over what politicians do in office.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
61.3 390 1 AGREE
38.7 246 2 DISAGREE
34 8 CANT CHOOSE
7 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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poleff2 NOT WORTH TALKING TO POLITICIANS.
B. The average person can get nowhere by talking to
public officials.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
45.2 280 1 AGREE
54.8 339 2 DISAGREE
50 8 CANT CHOOSE
8 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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poleff3 AVG PERSON CAN INFLUENCE POLITICIANS.
C. The average citizen has considerable indluence on
politics.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
32.7 204 1 AGREE
67.3 419 2 DISAGREE
42 8 CANT CHOOSE
12 9 NA
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32380 cases
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poleff4 AVG PERSON CAN INFLUENCE LOCAL GOVT.
D. The average person has much to say about running
local government.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
34.5 214 1 AGREE
65.5 406 2 DISAGREE
47 8 CANT CHOOSE
10 9 NA
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32380 cases
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poleff5 PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE MUCH TO SAY RE GOVT.
E. People like me have much to say about government.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
42.3 259 1 AGREE
57.7 353 2 DISAGREE
55 8 CANT CHOOSE
10 9 NA
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poleff6 AVG PERSON CAN INFLUENCE GOVT DECISIONS.
F. The average person has a great deal of influence on
government decisions.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
21.0 131 1 AGREE
79.0 492 2 DISAGREE
39 8 CANT CHOOSE
15 9 NA
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32380 cases
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poleff7 GOVT IS GENERALLY RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC.
G. The government is generally responsive to public
opinion.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
50.7 302 1 AGREE
49.3 294 2 DISAGREE
70 8 CANT CHOOSE
11 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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poleff8 I AM USUALLY INTERESTED IN LOCAL ELECTNS
H. I am usually interested in local elections.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
76.6 484 1 AGREE
23.4 148 2 DISAGREE
36 8 CANT CHOOSE
9 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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poleff9 PEOPLE CAN CONTROL WORLD AFFAIRS.
I. By taking an active part in political and social
affairs the people can control world affairs.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
40.4 233 1 AGREE
59.6 344 2 DISAGREE
91 8 CANT CHOOSE
9 9 NA
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32380 cases
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poleff10 THE WORLD IS GETTING BETTER.
J. Taking everything into account, the world is
getting better.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
41.1 225 1 AGREE
58.9 323 2 DISAGREE
119 8 CANT CHOOSE
10 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2174
setwage GOVT CONTROL OF WAGES.
Here are some things the government might do for the
economy. Circle one number for each action to show
whether you are in favor of it or against it. A.
control of wages by legislation.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
7.8 143 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
16.2 299 2 IN FAVOR
23.6 435 3 NEITHER
35.8 660 4 AGAINST
16.6 306 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
2 8 DK
49 9 NA
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setprice GOVT CONTROL OF PRICES.
B. Control of prices by legislation.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.0 166 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
27.7 509 2 IN FAVOR
23.9 439 3 NEITHER
27.6 507 4 AGAINST
11.8 216 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
1 8 DK
56 9 NA
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cutgovt CUTS IN GOVT SPENDING.
C. Cuts in government spending.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
39.1 723 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
40.4 747 2 IN FAVOR
13.7 254 3 NEITHER
5.0 93 4 AGAINST
1.7 31 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
1 8 DK
45 9 NA
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makejobs GOVT CREATE NEW JOBS.
D. Government financing of projects to create new
jobs.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
25.8 478 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
43.7 811 2 IN FAVOR
19.0 352 3 NEITHER
9.0 166 4 AGAINST
2.5 47 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
1 8 DK
39 9 NA
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lessreg LESS GOVT REGULATION OF BUSINESS.
E. Less government regulation of business.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
13.4 247 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
31.8 586 2 IN FAVOR
36.2 667 3 NEITHER
15.2 280 4 AGAINST
3.3 61 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
1 8 DK
52 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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hlphitec GOVT SUPPORT FOR NEW PRODUCTS AND TECH.
F. Support for industry to develop new products and
technology.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
24.7 457 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
48.1 890 2 IN FAVOR
19.7 364 3 NEITHER
6.1 113 4 AGAINST
1.5 28 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
1 8 DK
41 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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savejobs GOVT SUPPORT FOR DECLINING INDUSTRIES.
G. Supporting declining industries to protect jobs.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
15.9 295 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
35.7 661 2 IN FAVOR
26.3 488 3 NEITHER
17.9 332 4 AGAINST
4.2 78 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
1 8 DK
39 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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cuthours REDUCTION IN LENGTH OF WORK WEEK.
H. Reducing the work week to create more jobs.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
7.4 136 1 STRONGLY IN FAVOR
17.7 328 2 IN FAVOR
31.9 589 3 NEITHER
31.5 583 4 AGAINST
11.5 212 5 STRONGLY AGAINST
1 8 DK
45 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2182
spenviro GOVT SPENDING ON ENVIRONMENT.
Listed below are various areas of government spending.
Please indicate whether you would like to see more of
less government spending in each area. Remember that
if you say "much more," it might require a tax
increase to pay for it. A. The environment.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
13.8 244 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
40.8 723 2 SPEND MORE
34.7 616 3 SPEND SAME
8.7 155 4 SPEND LESS
2.0 36 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
66 8 CANT CHOOSE
54 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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sphlth GOVT SPENDING ON HEALTH.
B. Health.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
17.6 318 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
49.4 890 2 SPEND MORE
28.2 509 3 SPEND SAME
3.6 65 4 SPEND LESS
1.1 20 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
37 8 CANT CHOOSE
55 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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sppolice GOVT SPENDING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
C. The police and law enforcement.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
10.9 195 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
43.6 783 2 SPEND MORE
39.9 717 3 SPEND SAME
4.5 81 4 SPEND LESS
1.2 21 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
44 8 CANT CHOOSE
53 9 NA
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spschool GOVT SPENDING ON EDUCATION.
D. Education.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
24.4 440 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
46.3 835 2 SPEND MORE
26.0 468 3 SPEND SAME
2.5 45 4 SPEND LESS
0.8 14 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
38 8 CANT CHOOSE
54 9 NA
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sparms GOVT SPENDING ON DEFENSE.
E. The military and defense.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
4.8 86 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
11.1 197 2 SPEND MORE
37.1 659 3 SPEND SAME
29.5 523 4 SPEND LESS
17.4 309 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
57 8 CANT CHOOSE
63 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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spretire GOVT SPENDING ON RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
F. Retirement benefits.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
12.6 222 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
34.2 605 2 SPEND MORE
41.9 741 3 SPEND SAME
8.8 156 4 SPEND LESS
2.5 44 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
71 8 CANT CHOOSE
55 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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spunemp GOVT SPENDING ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
G. Unemployment benefits.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
7.5 132 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
19.5 345 2 SPEND MORE
50.6 894 3 SPEND SAME
15.8 280 4 SPEND LESS
6.6 116 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
73 8 CANT CHOOSE
54 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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sparts GOVT SPENDING ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS.
H. Culture and the arts.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
3.2 54 1 SPEND MUCH MORE
11.2 189 2 SPEND MORE
44.1 745 3 SPEND SAME
24.2 408 4 SPEND LESS
17.3 292 5 SPEND MUCH LESS
147 8 CANT CHOOSE
59 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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inctax AMOUNT OF TAX ON RS HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
Do you consider the amount of federal income tax that
your household has to pay is...
PCT N VALUE LABEL
25.2 163 1 MUCH TOO HIGH
38.2 247 2 TOO HIGH
30.8 199 3 ABOUT RIGHT
0.6 4 4 TOO LOW
5.3 34 6 DOES NOT APPLY
18 8 CANT CHOOSE
12 9 NA
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32380 cases
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bustax AMOUNT OF TAX ON BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.
Do you consider the amount of tax that business and
industry have to pay is too high or too low?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
5.4 32 1 MUCH TOO HIGH
13.7 82 2 TOO HIGH
33.3 199 3 ABOUT RIGHT
36.3 217 4 TOO LOW
11.2 67 5 MUCH TOO LOW
71 8 CANT CHOOSE
9 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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infljobs TOP PRIORITY OF GOVT: INFLATION OR JOBS?
If the government had to choose between keeping down
inflation or keeping down unemployment to which do you
think it should give highest priority?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
51.9 787 1 KEEP DOWN INFLATION
48.1 730 2 KEEP DOWN UNEMPLYMNT
324 8 CANT CHOOSE
53 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2193
laborpow POWER OF LABOR UNIONS IN RS COUNTRY.
Do you think that labor unions in this country have
too much power or too little power?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
19.3 327 1 FAR TOO MUCH POWER
34.6 586 2 TOO MUCH POWER
34.8 589 3 RIGHT AMNT OF POWER
9.4 159 4 TOO LITTLE POWER
1.8 31 5 FAR TOO LITTLE POWER
169 8 CANT CHOOSE
33 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2194
buspow POWER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.
How about business and industry, do they have too much
power or too little power?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
11.0 184 1 FAR TOO MUCH POWER
36.2 609 2 TOO MUCH POWER
46.3 778 3 RIGHT AMNT OF POWER
6.2 104 4 TOO LITTLE POWER
0.3 5 5 FAR TOO LITTLE POWER
182 8 CANT CHOOSE
32 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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govtpow POWER OF FEDERAL GOVT.
And what about the federal government, does it have
too much power or too little power?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
14.2 249 1 FAR TOO MUCH POWER
38.0 665 2 TOO MUCH POWER
43.4 760 3 RIGHT AMNT OF POWER
4.2 73 4 TOO LITTLE POWER
0.3 5 5 FAR TOO LITTLE POWER
108 8 CANT CHOOSE
34 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2196
ownpower GOVTS ROLE IN ELECTRIC POWER.
What do you think the government's role in each of
these industries should be. A. Electric power.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
6.0 100 1 OWN IT
60.3 1012 2 CONTROL PRICES
33.7 565 3 LEAVE ALONE
156 8 CANT CHOOSE
61 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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ownmass GOVTS ROLE IN LOCAL MASS TRANSPORTATION
B. Local mass transportation.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.8 60 1 OWN IT
47.5 291 2 CONTROL PRICES
42.6 261 3 LEAVE ALONE
49 8 CANT CHOOSE
16 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2198
ownsteel GOVTS ROLE IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY.
C. The steel industry.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
2.2 36 1 OWN IT
36.0 580 2 CONTROL PRICES
61.7 994 3 LEAVE ALONE
205 8 CANT CHOOSE
79 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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ownbanks GOVTS ROLE IN BANKING AND INSURANCE.
D. Banking and insurance.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
3.9 63 1 OWN IT
51.1 828 2 CONTROL PRICES
45.0 729 3 LEAVE ALONE
212 8 CANT CHOOSE
62 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2200
ownautos GOVTS ROLE IN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
E. The automobile industry.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
2.3 14 1 OWN IT
36.9 226 2 CONTROL PRICES
60.8 373 3 LEAVE ALONE
46 8 CANT CHOOSE
18 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
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Input location: 1/2201
jobsall GOVTS RESP: PROVIDE JOBS FOR ALL.
On the whole, do you think it should or should not be
the government's responsibility to: A. Provide a job
for everyone who wants one.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
17.2 747 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
26.8 1164 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
30.1 1306 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
26.0 1129 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
241 8 CANT CHOOSE
119 9 NA
27674 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2202
pricecon GOVTS RESP: KEEP PRICES UNDER CONTROL.
B. Keep prices under control.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
27.1 482 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
48.8 870 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
16.6 296 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
7.5 133 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
56 8 CANT CHOOSE
57 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2203
hlthcare GOVTS RESP: PROVIDE HLTH CARE FOR SICK
C. Provide health care for the sick.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
38.7 697 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
48.2 868 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
9.7 175 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
3.4 61 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
40 8 CANT CHOOSE
53 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2204
aidold GOVTS RESP: PROVIDE FOR THE ELDERLY.
D. Provide a decent standard of living for the old.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
40.3 727 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
47.3 854 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
10.1 182 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
2.3 41 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
42 8 CANT CHOOSE
48 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2205
aidindus GOVTS RESP: ASSIST INDUSTRIAL GROWTH.
E. Provide industry with the help it needs to grow.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
18.0 312 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
49.8 861 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
24.9 431 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
7.3 126 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
113 8 CANT CHOOSE
51 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2206
aidunemp GOVTS RESP: PROVIDE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
F. Provide a decent standard of living for the
unemployed.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
16.2 495 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
38.0 1161 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
30.4 928 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
15.3 468 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
201 8 CANT CHOOSE
94 9 NA
29033 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2207
equalize GOVTS RESP: REDUCE INCOME DIFFERENCES.
G. Reduce income differences between the rich and
poor.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
18.9 554 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
25.9 759 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
27.6 809 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
27.6 810 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
231 8 CANT CHOOSE
90 9 NA
29127 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
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Input location: 1/2208
aidcol GOV. SHOULD ASSIST LOW-INCOME COLLEGE ST
H. Give financial assistance to college students from
low-income families.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
30.8 347 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
56.7 638 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
9.5 107 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
3.0 34 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
49 8 CANT CHOOSE
42 9 NA
31163 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
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Input location: 1/2209
aidhouse GOV. SHOULD PROVIDE HOUSING TO POOR
I. Provide decent housing for those who can't afford
it.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
21.1 236 1 DEFIN SHOULD BE
52.5 588 2 PROBAB SHOULD BE
20.6 231 3 PROB SHOULD NOT BE
5.9 66 4 DEFIN SHOULD NOT BE
57 8 CANT CHOOSE
39 9 NA
31163 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2210
1972-1994 General Social Survey Cumulative File